Kaduna Government Shut Down Schools And Bank

Prof. Muhammed Tanko, Chairman, Kaduna State Board of Internal Revenue, on Wednesday, announced that the board has shut down 25 private schools and one micro-finance bank following tax evasion.

Kaduna State Map

Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna, he said the Board would not hesitate to prosecute those who refused to pay their taxes to the state government.

“These actions became necessary after we issued a seven-days ultimatum to all tax defaulters to pay up” he said. “At the end of the ultimatum, only 175 private schools paid their taxes, while 25 others were sanctioned over unpaid tax arrears. We served them with all the tax remittance processes, ranging from letters of inspection, tax audit to demand notices for payment.”

The chairman also revealed that the next phase of the exercise is to clamp down on hotels, private hospitals, clinics, and eateries.

Tanko, who further disclosed that the state government lost N18 billion in 2013 to unremitted taxes and revenue, blaming some of the state’s unfinished capital projects on the development.

“Although we have 70 revenue generating ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), the Board of Internal Revenue and the Ministry of Lands are the two major revenue sources in the state” he said.

The chairman said that the Board had set out modalities to boost the 2014 revenue from the various MDAs by reinforcing their machineries through direct assessment and other strategies.

“We will also work with the legislators to ensure that relevant laws are initiated to replace obsolete ones in order to enhance revenue generation” he said. “We will also enhance revenue collections at various levels to enable the state implement the budget as planned.”

Tanko assured the people that the government was committed to the development of infrastructure in the state.